Abstract

The purpose of this study was to identify the causes of poverty among rural
women and seek recommendations from the respondents as to how poverty could be
alleviated.
<br>Several theoretical perspectives have been used to explain the existence of
rural poverty. Among them are the individualistic theory, the physical ecology
theory and the political economy theory. The theoretical perspective that was found
to be suitable for the study was the political economy theory.
<br>In conducting the study, a sample size of 220 was used. A multiple sample
technique was adopted for selecting the sample size. Both primary data and
secondary information were used. Interviews with the help of structured
questionnaires and non-participant observation were used for the study.
<br>The findings of the study, which included gender inequalities in terms of
access to land, credit and education, supported the political economy theory, which
attributed poverty to unequal distribution of wealth and power and the urban bias
of the government, district assemblies, policy makers and local elites.
<br>Based on the results of the study, it was recommended that to alleviate
rural women's poverty, there should be a fairer system of distribution of wealth and
power among the people and greater access of women to education.